Power operated can opener

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for opening cans of the type having an axially projecting end seam. The can opener has a cutter and a drive wheel mounted on a vertically movable head to enable lowering and raising of the cutter and drive wheel into and out of position at relatively opposite sides of the can end seam, and the rotary drive wheel is mounted for movement relative to the cutter head in a direction laterally of the cutter into and out of an operative position firmly pressing the end seam of the can against the cutter. A common actuator means is provided for raising and lowering the cutter head and for moving the drive wheel toward and away from the cutter.

United States Patent Peterson POWER OPERATED CAN OPENER [72] Inventor: Ralph M. Peterson, Rockford, Ill. [73] Assignee: Peterson-Kruse, Inc., Rockford, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 107,142

[51] Int. Cl. ..B67b 7/38 [58] Field of Search ..30/4 A, 4 R, 8.5, 9, 10, 14, 30/15, 15.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,547,258 4/1951 Craig ..30/9 X 1,441,652 1/1923 Andrae ..30/8.5

2,583,034 1/1952 Wibling ..30/4 R 2,995,817 8/1961 Scott ..30/4 R Oct. 17,1972

Primary Examiner--Robert C. Riordon Assistant ExaminerGary L. Smith Attorney-McCanna, Morsbach, Pillote & Muir [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for opening cans of the type having an axially projecting end seam. The can opener has a cutter and a drive wheel mounted on a vertically movable head to enable lowering and raising of the cutter and drive wheel into and out of position at relatively opposite sides of the can end seam, and the rotary drive wheel is mounted for movement relative to the cutter head in a direction laterally of the cutter into and out of an operative position firmly pressing the end seam of the can against the cutter. A common actuator means is provided for raising and lowering the cutter head and for moving the drive wheel toward and away from the cutter.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures POWER OPERATED CAN OPENER BACKGROUND The present invention relates to can openers of the type having a cutter arranged to engage the outer face of the can end seam and a drive wheel arranged to engage the inner face of the can end seam as disclosed, for example, in the U. S. Patent to D. R. Fyfe No. 3,510,941, dated May 12, 1970. Such can openers operate to sever the cover from the can along the outer face of the can end seam and thus avoid contamination of the can contents as is sometimes caused when the cutter projects into the can, and to also avoid dropping of the severed cover into the can. In the prior can openers of this type, the cutter and drive wheel were manually moved into cutting position at relatively opposite sides of the can end seam and a mechanism was thereafter operated tofshift the drive wheel toward the cutter to press the can end seam against the cutter during rotation of the drive wheel.

SUMMARY It is the object of this invention to provide a power operated can opener of the type described in which a common power actuator performs the dual function of moving the cutter and drive wheel into cutting position atrelatively opposite si des of a can end seam and of moving the drive wheel toward the cutter to press the can end seam against the cutter.

Accordingly, the power operated can opener of the present invention has a cutter and drive wheelmounted on a vertically movable head that is adapted to be lowered to position the cutter and drive wheel at relatively opposite sides of the canend seam; the rotary drive wheel is supported for axial movement in a direction laterally of the cutter to enable the drive wheel to be moved toward the cutter to firmly press the can end seam against the cutter, and a common power operated actuator is operatively connected to the drive shaft for the rotary cutter to both move the cutter head downwardly into cutting position with respect to the can end seam and also move the drive wheel laterally toward the cutter to press the can end seam against the cutter. The can opener is advantageously electrically operated with a rotary drive motor for rotating the drive wheel and an electric solenoid type actuator for both lowering the head and laterally shifting the drive wheel. The can opener has a force multiplying linkage, operatively responsive to energization of the actuator, to initially force the head including the cutter and drive wheel downwardly into cutting position at opposite faces of the can end seam and to thereafter force the drive wheel laterally toward the cutter to firmly press the can end seam against the cutter. The can opener has a can support whichis advantageously adjustable to accommodate cans of different size, and provision is made to accommodate minor variations in the height of cans of a given size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the can opener with parts broken away along the section line 1-1 of FIG. 2 to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a sectional viewthrough the can opener taken on the plane 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the same plane as FIG. 2 and showing the parts on a larger scale and with the cutter head in its raised position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the plane 4-4'of FIG. 2 and showing the parts on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane 5-5 of FIG. 1 and showing the parts on a larger scale;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operating linkage in different moved positions; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit for the can opener.

The can opener is advantageously enclosed in a housing including a base 10, a front panelll and top, rear and side panels 12, 13 and 14 respectively which are joined to each other and to the base and front panel. The base and front panel 10 and 11 are preferably made of relatively heavy gauge stock and are rigidly interconnected and braced by a bracket 10a. The base and front panel, together with a pair of laterally spaced brackets 15 attached to the front panel, form a support frame for the operating mechanism. A can support structure is provided 'adjacent to the lower end of the housing for rotatably supporting a can. The can support structure is preferably adjustable to accommodate cans of different size and, as best shown in FIG. 1, includes a pair of laterally spaced guideways 18 attached to the front panel as by screws 19. Support arms 21 are vertically adjustably mounted in the guideways and arranged to be locked in adjusted position by tightening the screws 19, to thereby accommodate cans of different height. A can support tray 22, having can centering means such as a rim 22b, is rotatably supported on the arms 21 and is advantageously yieldably supported for limited vertical lost motion for purposes hereinafter described. As best shown in FIG. 1, the tray 22 is detachably secured to a shaft 23 as by a fastener 22a and the shaft 23 is slidably and rotatably supported by upper and lower bearings 24 and 25 mounted in a carrier block 26. The carrier block 26 is mounted on the arms for adjustment in a direction laterally of the front panel 11, as by fasteners 27 that extend through slots 28 in the arms 21 to accommodate cans of different diameter. The bearings 24 and 25 rotatably support the tray and have their outer races pressed into the bore 26a in the carrier block 26. In order to allow limited vertical lost motion of the tray 22, the shaft 23 is slidably supported in the inner races of the bearings 24 and 25 and the shaft is yieldably urged to a raised position by a spring 29 interposed between the inner race of the lower bearing 25 and a split-ring type collar 23a on the shaft 23. A stop member 23b is attached to the lower end of the shaft 23 and arranged to engage the underside of the lower bearing 25 to limit upward movement of the shaft and tray. The spring 29 yieldably urges the can support trayto a raised position as shown in FIG. 1, in which the upper collar 23c on the shaft 23 is spaced above the upper bearing. The spring 29 is selected so as to have a compressive force sufficient to provide adequate upward pressure on the can to maintain driving engagement with the can drive wheel described hereinafter.

The can opener is adapted for use with cans C having an upwardly projecting end flange seam as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. In general, the can side wall 35 has an external downwardly extending can flange at its upper end, and the can cover 36 has a cover flange that extends upwardly along the inside of the can side wall, then over the top of the can flange; downwardly along the outer side of the can flange, and then upwardly between the can side wall and the downwardly extending can flange. The opener is arranged to open the can by cutting the cover flange along the outer face of the can end seam and, for this purpose, has a cutter 38 arranged to engage the outer face of the can end seam, and a drive wheel 39 arranged to engage the inner face of the can end seam to press the can end seam against the cutter. The cutter and drive wheel are mounted for rotation about relatively transverse axes on a cutter head 41. As best shown in FIG. 5, the drive wheel 39 has an annular, preferably toothed or knurled, rim portion 39a arranged to engage the upper edge of the can end seam, and an outwardly extending flange portion 39b of larger diameter than the rim portion 39a and arranged to engage the inner face of the can end seam to press the can end seam against the cutter. The inner face of the flange portion is preferably smooth; but may be knurled or grooved to enhance driving action, if desired.

The cutter 38 is of the rotary type having at least one cutting edge. In the embodiment shown, the cutter has a generally cylindrical configuration to provide an operative cutting edge 380 at its upper end and a second or reserve cutting edge 38b at its lower end which can be utilized by inverting the cutter. The cutter may be cut away or relieved below the upper cutting 'edge 38a, if desired to provide a sharper cutting edge and the cutter may, for example, be beveled downwardly from the upper cutting edge or formed with a concave periphery between the cutting edges 38a and 38b.

The cutter is removably mounted on the head 41 by a cutter mounting block 46 which is detachably secured to the head by fasteners 46a (FIG. 1). The cutter 38 is loosely received in a cavity in the lower side of the head and the cutter is rotatably supported on a pin 42. As best shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of the pin 42 is conveniently pressed into a bore in the mounting block, and the pin extends upwardly through a lower thrust bearing 44 and through a radial bearing 43 in the cutter 38, into a socket in the head. The radial bearing 43 is conveniently of the sleeve type having a flange or thrust washer 43a at its upper end to limit upward movement of the cutter. The lower thrust bearing is preferably of the anti-friction type with its outer race 44a arranged to supportably engage the underside of the cutter 38, and its inner race 44b arranged to engage a raised boss 420 on the mounting block so that the down thrust on the cutter is transmitted from the outer periphery of the cutter, through the outer race 44a, anti-friction balls 44c and inner race 44b to the boss 420 on the cutter mounting block.

The cutter head 41 is mounted for limited vertical movement to allow lowering and raising of the cutter and drive wheel into and out of cutting position at relatively opposite sides of the can end seam. The drive wheel is also supported for movement in a direction laterally of the cutter and is movable toward the cutter to clamp the can end seam therebetween. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cutter head 41 is mounted on a movable support structure 51. The movable support structure 51 rotatably supports the drive shaft 52 for the drive wheel and includes bearings 53 and 54 herein shown rigidly interconnected by upper and lower plate members 55 and 56. The cutter head 41 is secured as by fasteners 57 (FIG. 1) to one end of the movable support structure and the other end of the movable support structure is pivotally mountedby a pin 58 on the brackets 15 of the support frame, to thereby support the head for limited vertical movement relative to the housing. The movable support structure extends through an opening 11a in the front panel of the housing and a resilient cover 61 is advantageously provided to cover the opening 11a, while accommodating vertical movement of the head. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover 61 is clamped at its inner edge on the movable head 41 and at its outer edge by a clamp ring 62 on the front panel.

The drive shaft 52 is rotatably and slidably supported in the bearings 53 and 54 on the movable support structure and a common actuating apparatus is provided for both moving the cutter head downwardly to position the cutter and drive wheel at relatively opposite sides of the can end seam, and for also moving the drive wheel laterally toward the cutter to firmly clamp the can end seam to the cutter. For this purpose, a thrust means designated generally by the numeral 65 is non-slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft 52 intermediate 'the pivot point 58 and the drive wheel 39. In the form shown, the thrust means includes a pair of anti-friction bearing assemblies 66 which are axially positioned on the shaft 52 between spaced split-ring type thrust collars 67 and 68. A ring 69 surrounds the outer race of the bearing assemblies and, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the ring is held against rotation as by a pin 71 that slidably extends in a follower slot 72 in the lower plate member 56. Thus, the thrust means 65 is axially fixed relative to the shaft 52, but allows the shaft to rotate freely therein.

Operating links 75 are pivotally connected by pins 76 to the outer ring member 69 of the thrust means for swinging movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The links are movable from a first position extending generally downwardly from the pivot pins 76, as shown in FIG. 3 to a second position as shown in FIG. 4, and provision is made for applying forces to the links 75 as they are moved from the first to their second position to first draw the cutter head 41 downwardly and then move the drive wheel laterally toward the cutter. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, downward motion of the cutter head is effected by a second pair of links 78 which are pivotally connected by a cross pin 79 at their lower ends to the lower ends of links 75, The links 78 are relatively shorter than links 75 and are pivotally connected by pins 80 at their upper ends to the brackets 15 of the stationary support frame. The pivot pins 81 are advantageously located as shown, and as described more fully hereinafter, at a location such that g the links 78 extend downwardly and forwardly, when ing the initial portion of the angular movement of links 75 and 78. However, as links 78 approach their second position, the downward motion imparted to links 75 becomes very small while the force for holding the head in its lowered position is relatively high, by reason of the approach to the overcenter position of the links 75 and 78. The links 75, when in its second position, is preferably close to or even slightly beyond an overcenter position with relation to links 78 so that only a relatively small force has to be applied to the linkage to hold it in its second position. Moreover, with this arrangement, the linkage operates to draw the head down to substantially the same level each time. As links 75 move to their second position shown in FIG. 2 and in phantom in FIG. 6, there is a component of force applied by the link to the shaft which tends to urge the shaft in a direction to retract the same. However, in order to assure positive and reliable retraction of the drive shaft and drive wheel, a cam arrangement is also provided for retracting the drive wheel, which cam arrangement is operated by links 75. More particularly, the cam arrangement includes a pair of abutments shown at 81 in FIGS. 3 and 6 which are fixedly mounted on the movable support structure 51 and which are engageable by cam fingers 75a onthe upper ends of the links 75. While the abutments 81 can be of any suitable form, they are herein shown in the form of laterally spaced blocks 81a which are interconnected by a cross member 81b and rigidly attached to the upper plate member 55 of the movable support structure. The rear ends of the blocks 81a form the aforementioned abutments 81 and are positioned in thepath of movement of the respective fingers 750 on the links 75, as the latter move from their first toward their second position. As shown in FIG. 3, the cam fingers 75a on links 75 are spaced slightly from the respective abutments 81 when the links 75 are in their first position so that, during movement of the links from their first to their second position, the cam fingers operate primarily during the latter portion of the movement of the links 75 toward its second position to effect retraction of the drive wheel toward the cutter. Thus, the linkage and cam arrangement operates to effect a sequential lowering of the head and movement of the drive wheel toward the cutter.

An electroresponsive actuator 91 is provided for operatingthe linkage assembly and, in the preferred embodiment, a pair of electric solenoids are utilized and arranged in side-by-side relation to equalize the pull applied to the linkages at each side of the can opener. It is to be understood however, that a single appropriately sized solenoid could be used. The solenoids are of conventional construction and each includes a stationary core structure 91a conveniently mounted on the lower plate member 56 and having the usual windings 91b, and a movable armature 910. Such solenoids achieve their maximum pull as the armature approaches its pull-in or seated position on the core structure as shown in FIG. 2 and, the armatures of the dual solenoids are connected through springs 92 to the cross pin 79 which interconnects the links 75 and 78. A return spring 93, of relatively lower strength than springs 92, is also connected to the cross pin 79 and to a pin 94 on the support frame so as to yieldably urge the linkage assembly back to its first position shown in FIG. 3, when the electroresponsive actuators 91 are deenergized. In addition, a cutter .head return spring 95 is interposed between pin 94 and the movable support structure through a guide 96 and arranged to yieldably urge the cutter head to its raised position. As will be understood, the springs 92 are selected so as to be suffrciently strong to not only overcome the return spring 95 but also transmit sufficient force from the armatures 91c to the linkage assembly to actuate the latter and move the head 41 downwardly against the bias of return spring 95 into engagement with the end seam on the upper end of the can. The links 75 78 form a force multiplying linkage which operates to sequentially move the head down against the can and thereafter move the shaft 52 and drive wheel 39 axially to press the can end seam against the cutter. As previously discussed, the links 75, 78, when moved to their second or overcenter position, move the head 41 and drive wheel 39 a substantially fixed level, and the can support tray is adjusted to support the upper end of the can rim slightly above the level of the rim 39a, when the links 75 are in their second position. The spring 29 for the can support tray is therefore compressed slightly during a cutting operation and this spring operates to maintain a generally uniform upward pressure on the can to maintain the upper flange seam in driving engagement with the rim 39a on the drive wheel/In addition, the linkage assembly is arranged so that the force required to maintain the head in its lower position is minimized. Thus, most of the operating force of the solenoids can be utilized, when the head is in its lower position, to draw the drive wheel axially against the can end seam.

' The drive wheel drive shaft 52 :is driven by a motor 98 conveniently mounted on an adjustable support 99 carried by the base 10. The motor shaft 98a is connected through a pulley 101 and belt 102 to a relatively large diameter pulley 103 on the drive shaft 52. In order to assist cooling of the motor and other electrical components, a fan 101a is provided on the motor shaft and ventilating louvers 13a are provided in the housing.

It is contemplated that energization of the drive motor 98 and the actuator solenoid 91 could be effected manually under the control of suitable manually operable switches. In the control circuit schematically shown in FIG. 7, the motor 98 is continuously energized during operation of the can opener under the control of a manual off-on switch 100 and solenoids 91 are intermittently energized during each can opening operation under the control of a switch 108. In order to simplify repetitive can opening operations, operation of the switch 108 is conveniently effected under the control of a timer 109. The timer 109 is of a known type of time-delay timer which is selectively adjustable to control duration of the time interval and which is operative, when actuated under the control of a manually operableswitch 110, to close the switch 108 for a time interval determined by the setting of the timer, and to thereafter automatically open the vswitch 108. The timer is of course set for a time interval sufficient to allow the can opener to complete one cutting operation on a can and thenautomatically deenergize the elec troresponsive solenoids 91.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation of the can opener will be readily understood. The cutter head is normally disposed in its raised position shown in FIG. 3 and the can C to be opened is then positioned on the tray 22 below the cutter drive wheel 39'. The position of the tray both laterally of the front wall and vertically is of course preadjusted in accordance with the size of the can so as to locate the seam on the upper end of the can laterally adjacent the plane of the front face of the cutter head 41 and vertically slightly above the level of the drive rim 390 on the drive wheel when the cutter head is in its lowered position shown in FIG. 2. Upon energization of the solenoids 91 under control of switch 108, the solenoids operate the linkages 75 and 78 to initially move the head downwardly to position the cutter and drive wheel at relatively opposite sides of the can end seam, and thereafter move the drive wheel laterally toward the cutter to firmly clamp the can in flange between the drive wheel and cutter. As previously described, motor 98 is preferably energized continuously so as to rotate the drive wheel and thereby rotate the can past the cutter in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 1. The axis of the drive shaft 52 and drive wheel 39 extends substantially radially of the can and the axis of the cutter is preferably inclined with respect to a radial plane at an angle of about 10 degrees as shown in FIG.

1 such that the plane of the cutting edge 39a is inclined downwardly relative to a plane through the can end seam so that the cutter tends to ride downwardly along the flange seam. In addition, this downward inclination of the cutting edge produces a separating force which tends to lift and separate the severed portion of the cover. I

When the actuator 91 is deenergized, return spring 93 returns the linkage 75, 78 to the position shown in FIG. 3 and spring 95 urges the head 41 to its raised position. The pressure of the can end seam on the cutter wheel tends to urge the same laterally away from the cutter, as the linkage 75, 78 moves from its second toward its first position. In order to assist movement of the drive wheel to its extended position shown in FIG. 3, the pulley 101 of the drive motor is offset forwardly of the pulley 103 on the drive shaft so that the belt applies a force on the shaft which tends to urge the shaft forwardly. If necessary or desired, a spring could be interposed between the thrust means 65 and the rear bearing support 53, to yieldably urge the drive wheel to the position shown in FIG. 3.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A power operated apparatus for opening cans having an axially projecting end seam at their upper end comprising, a support frame, means on the support frame engageable with a can for supporting the same for rotation about an upright axis, a cutter head including a cutter arranged to engage the outer face of the can end seam and a rotatable drive wheel having a flange portion arranged to engage the inner face of the can end seam, means mounting the cutter head on the support frame for limited vertical movement relative thereto to enable lowering and raising of the cutter and drive wheel on the head into and out of cutting position with the cutter at the outer face of the can end seam and the rim portion of the drive wheel at the inner face of the can end seam, said drive wheel having a drive shaft mounted for axial rotation and limited endwise movement relative to the head to enable movement of the drive wheel laterally of the head toward and away from the cutter into and out of position gripping the can end seam therebetween, means operable to drivingly rotate said drive shaft and the drive wheel thereon, common electroresponsive solenoid means for both lowering the cutter head and for moving the drive wheel toward the cutter, and actuator means operatively connected to said solenoid means operative in response to energization of said solenoid means to initially move the head downwardly toward said cutting position and to thereafter move the drive wheel laterally toward the cutter.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes thrust means non-slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, link means, pivot means pivotally connecting one end of said link means to said thrust means, means responsive to swinging of said link means in one direction about said pivot means for moving the link means downwardly and for moving the pivot means in a direction to move the drive shaft and drive wheel toward the cutter, and yieldable means connecting said link means to said solenoid means for swinging said link means in said one direction.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 including a second link means pivotally connected at one end to said first-mentioned link means and pivotally connected at its other end to said support frame at a location to urge the first-mentioned link means downwardly as said first-mentioned link means is moved in said one direction.

4. A power operated apparatus for opening cans having an axially projecting end seam comprising, a stationary support frame, a movable support structure mounted on said stationary-frame for limited movement relative thereto in a generally upright plane, a generally horizontal drive shaft slidably and rotatably mounted on said movable support structure, a cutter arranged to engage the outer face of a can end seam, a drive wheel on said shaft having a flange portion arranged to engage the inner face of the can end seam, thrust means non-slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, and actuator means operatively connected to said thrust means for moving said shaft downwardly to position the flange portion of said drive wheel at the inner side of the can end seam and for also moving said shaft axially in a direction to move the drive wheel toward the cutter to firmly gripthe flange end seam between the drive wheel and cutter, and means for driving said shaft to rotate the drive wheel.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes a link pivotally connected to said thrust means includes a link pivotally connected to said thrust means on said shaft, selectively operable means for moving said link, and cam means on said support frame engageable by said link.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes a first link pivotally attached at its upper end to said thrust means for swinging movement relative thereto between first and second positions, a second link having one end pivotally connected to the lower end of the first link and its upper end pivotally connected to a support frame at a location to draw the first link downwardly as the first link is moved from its first toward its second position to thereby lower the drive wheel, and cam means on the support frame and first link for shifting the thrust means relative to the movable support structure in a direction to move the drive wheel toward the cutter as the first link is moved toward said second position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first and second links move toward an overcenter position as said first link moves from said first toward said second position thereof.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said actuator means includes a solenoid having a movable armature, and spring means connecting said armature to said first link adjacent the lower end thereof.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said movable support structure is pivotally mounted on the support frame adjacent the end of the shaft remote from the drive wheel, said means for rotating the shaft including a pulley on the end of the shaft remote from the drive wheel, a motor mounted on the support frame, and belt means connecting the motor to the pulley.

10. A power operated apparatus for opening cans having an axially projecting end seam comprising, a housing having a front panel and an opening in said front panel, means adjacent the lower end of said housing for supporting a can for rotation about an upright axis, an elongated movable support structure pivotally mounted adjacent its rear end on said housing and extending forwardly through said opening in the front panel, a generally horizontal drive shaft slidably and rotatably mounted on said movable support structure and having a can engaging wheel at the forward end thereof adapted to engage the inner face of the can end seam, a cutter mounted on said movable support structure below said can engaging wheel and supported for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft for engagement with the outer face of the can end seam, thrust means non-slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft intermediate the pivotal mounting of the movable support structure and the drive wheel on the shaft, a first link pivotally attached at its upper end to said thrust means and extending downwardly therefrom, a second link shorter than said first link and having its lower end pivotally interconnected with the lower end of the first link, means pivotally mounting the upper end of said second link on said housing at a location to urge the first link downwardly, as the latter is moved from a first to a second position thereof, to thereby move the drive wheel and cutter downwardly into position at the inner and outer faces of the can end seam, abutment means on the housing engageable by the upper end of the first link as the latter is moved toward said second position for shifting the shaft and drive wheel rearwardly to firmly press the can end seam against the cutter, actuator means for moving said first link between said first and second positions, and means for driving said shaft.

1. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first and second links move toward an overcenter position as said first link moves from said first toward said second position thereof.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said actuator includes a solenoid having a movable armature, and spring means connecting said armature to said first link.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10 including spring means engaging said movable support structure for yieldably urging it to a raised position.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said can support means includes a can support member mounted for rotation about an upright axis and for limited vertical motion, and spring means yieldably urging the can support member to a raised position. 

1. A power operated apparatus for opening cans having an axially projecting end seam at their upper end comprising, a support frame, means on the support frame engageable with a can for supporting the same for rotation about an upright axis, a cutter head including a cutter arranged to engage the outer face of the can end seam and a rotatable drive wheel having a flange portion arranged to engage the inner face of the can end seam, means mounting the cutter head on the support frame for limited vertical movement relative thereto to enable lowering and raising of the cutter and drive wheel on the head into and out of cutting position with the cutter at the outer face of the can end seam and the rim portion of the drive wheel at the inner face of the can end seam, said drive wheel having a drive shaft mounted for axial rotation and limited endwise movement relative to the head to enable movement of the drive wheel laterally of the head toward and away from the cutter into and out of position gripping the can end seam therebetween, means operable to drivingly rotate said drive shaft and the drive wheel thereon, common electroresponsive solenoid means for both lowering the cutter head and for moving the drive wheel toward the cutter, and actuator means operatively connected to said solenoid means operative in response to energization of said solenoid means to initially move the head downwardly toward said cutting position and to thereafter move the drive wheel laterally toward the cutter.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes thrust means non-slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, link means, pivot means pivotally connecting one end of said link means to said thrust means, means responsive to swinging of said link means in one direction about said pivot means for moving the link means downwardly and for moving the pivot means in a direction to move the drive shaft and drive wheel toward the cutter, and yieldable means connecting said link means to said solenoid means for swinging said link means in said one direction.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 including a second link means pivotally connected at one end to said first-mentioned link means and pivotally connected at its other end to said support frame at a location to urge the first-mentioned link means downwardly as said first-mentioned link means is moved in said one direction.
 4. A power operated apparatus for opening cans having an axially projecting end seam comprising, a stationary support frame, a movable support structure mounted on said stationary frame for limited movement relative thereto in a generally upright plane, a generally horizontal drive shaft slidably and rotatably mounted on said movable support structure, a cutter arranged to engage the outer face of a can end seam, a drive wheel on said shaft having a flange portion arranged to engage the inner face of the can end seam, thrust means non-slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, and actuator means operatively connected to said thrust means for moving said shaft downwardly to position the flange portion of said drive wheel at the inner side of the can end seam and for also moving said shaft axially in a direction to move the drive wheel toward the cutter to firmly grip the flange end seam between the drive wheel and Cutter, and means for driving said shaft to rotate the drive wheel.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes a link pivotally connected to said thrust means on said shaft, selectively operable means for moving said link, and cam means on said support frame engageable by said link.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes a first link pivotally attached at its upper end to said thrust means for swinging movement relative thereto between first and second positions, a second link having one end pivotally connected to the lower end of the first link and its upper end pivotally connected to a support frame at a location to draw the first link downwardly as the first link is moved from its first toward its second position to thereby lower the drive wheel, and cam means on the support frame and first link for shifting the thrust means relative to the movable support structure in a direction to move the drive wheel toward the cutter as the first link is moved toward said second position.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first and second links move toward an overcenter position as said first link moves from said first toward said second position thereof.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said actuator means includes a solenoid having a movable armature, and spring means connecting said armature to said first link adjacent the lower end thereof.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said movable support structure is pivotally mounted on the support frame adjacent the end of the shaft remote from the drive wheel, said means for rotating the shaft including a pulley on the end of the shaft remote from the drive wheel, a motor mounted on the support frame, and belt means connecting the motor to the pulley.
 10. A power operated apparatus for opening cans having an axially projecting end seam comprising, a housing having a front panel and an opening in said front panel, means adjacent the lower end of said housing for supporting a can for rotation about an upright axis, an elongated movable support structure pivotally mounted adjacent its rear end on said housing and extending forwardly through said opening in the front panel, a generally horizontal drive shaft slidably and rotatably mounted on said movable support structure and having a can engaging wheel at the forward end thereof adapted to engage the inner face of the can end seam, a cutter mounted on said movable support structure below said can engaging wheel and supported for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft for engagement with the outer face of the can end seam, thrust means non-slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft intermediate the pivotal mounting of the movable support structure and the drive wheel on the shaft, a first link pivotally attached at its upper end to said thrust means and extending downwardly therefrom, a second link shorter than said first link and having its lower end pivotally interconnected with the lower end of the first link, means pivotally mounting the upper end of said second link on said housing at a location to urge the first link downwardly, as the latter is moved from a first to a second position thereof, to thereby move the drive wheel and cutter downwardly into position at the inner and outer faces of the can end seam, abutment means on the housing engageable by the upper end of the first link as the latter is moved toward said second position for shifting the shaft and drive wheel rearwardly to firmly press the can end seam against the cutter, actuator means for moving said first link between said first and second positions, and means for driving said shaft.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first and second links move toward an overcenter position as said first link moves from said first toward said second position thereof.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said actuator includes a solenoid having a movable armature, and spring means connecting said armature to said first link.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 10 including spring means engaging said movable support structure for yieldably urging it to a raised position.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said can support means includes a can support member mounted for rotation about an upright axis and for limited vertical motion, and spring means yieldably urging the can support member to a raised position. 